Photo: Julian Villanueva, deceased

by Charles Gladden

SANTA ELENA, Cayo District, Fri. Mar. 24, 2023

The motionless body of a man with cut wounds in the chest area was found shortly before 3:00 a.m. on Friday, March 24, on the side of the George Price Highway in the Red Creek area. The deceased was identified as Julian Villanueva, 51, from Santa Elena Town, Cayo District.

When police arrived at the scene, they transported Villanueva to the San Ignacio Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

On Sunday, March 26, Mark Luis Castellanos, 27, an unemployed resident of Santa Elena Town, was arrested and charged with murder. The motive for the crime is currently unknown.